:Zymer Bytyqi
{{Short description|Professional footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Zymer Bytyqi
|image = Zymer Bytyqi.JPG
|caption = Bytyqi with Sandnes Ulf in May 2013
|fullname = Zymer Bytyqi
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|9|11|df=y}}
|birth_place = Sint-Truiden, Belgium{{cite news|url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=266334&seasonId=342&useFullUrl=false|title=Zymer Bytyqi|language=no|website=Altomfotball|access-date=19 December 2020}}
|position = Winger
|currentclub = CSKA Sofia
|clubnumber = 9
|youthyears1 = 2006–2009
|youthclubs1 = Lura
|youthyears2 = 2009–2012
|youthclubs2 = Sandnes Ulf
|years1 = 2012–2013
|clubs1 = Sandnes Ulf
|caps1 = 5
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2013–2015
|clubs2 = Red Bull Salzburg
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2013–2014
|clubs3 = → Sandnes Ulf (loan)
|caps3 = 22
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2015–2020
|clubs4 = Viking
|caps4 = 140
|goals4 = 20
|years5 = 2020–2023
|clubs5 = Konyaspor
|caps5 = 75
|goals5 = 10
|years6 = 2023
|clubs6 = Olympiacos
|caps6 = 2
|goals6 = 0
|years7 = 2023–2024
|clubs7 = Antalyaspor
|caps7 = 29
|goals7 = 1
|years8 = 2024–
|clubs8 = CSKA Sofia
|caps8 = 14
|goals8 = 3
|nationalyears1 = 2011
|nationalteam1 = Norway U15
|nationalcaps1 = 3
|nationalgoals1 = 1
|nationalyears2 = 2012
|nationalteam2 = Norway U16
|nationalcaps2 = 11
|nationalgoals2 = 2
|nationalyears3 = 2013
|nationalteam3 = Norway U17
|nationalcaps3 = 9
|nationalgoals3 = 3
|nationalyears4 = 2013–2014
|nationalteam4 = Norway U18
|nationalcaps4 = 11
|nationalgoals4 = 1
|nationalyears5 = 2014–2015
|nationalteam5 = Norway U19
|nationalcaps5 = 9
|nationalgoals5 = 0
|nationalyears6 = 2015
|nationalteam6 = Norway U21
|nationalcaps6 = 1
|nationalgoals6 = 0
|nationalyears7 = 2014–
|nationalteam7 = Kosovo
|nationalcaps7 = 26
|nationalgoals7 = 1
|club-update = 18:49, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 19:15, 20 November 2024 (UTC)
}}
Zymer Bytyqi (born 11 September 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia. Born in Belgium, he represents the Kosovo national team.
He previously played for Sandnes Ulf and Red Bull Salzburg, and became the youngest player that has ever played in the Norwegian top league when he made his first-team debut in 2012 (the record has since been broken by Martin Ødegaard).
Club career
=Early career and Sandnes Ulf=
Bytyqi was born in Belgium to Kosovar immigrants, but moved to Norway at the age of 2.{{cite news |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article233672.ece |language=no |title=Sandnes Ulf selger stortalent |work=aftenbladet.no |publisher=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Stig |last=Nilssen |first2=Ola |last2=Fintland |date=24 April 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012}} He did not play football before he was 10 years old,{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/norsk/artikkel.php?artid=10053685 |language=no |title="Karate-kid" ble tidenes yngste i eliteserien |work=vg.no |publisher=Verdens Gang |first=Øyvind |last=Jacobsen |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=1 June 2012}} when he started to play for Lura IL before he moved to Sandnes Ulf ahead of the 2010 season.{{cite news |url=http://fotball.aftenbladet.no/eliteserien/article225918.ece |language=no |title=Bytyqi spås å bli en fremtidig Ulf-profil |work=aftenbladet.no |publisher=Stavanger Aftenblad |first=Jan-Erik |last=Larsen |date=26 February 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012}} In 2011, he played several matches for Sandnes Ulf's reserve team in the Third Division. He also trained with the first team but was ineligible for play in the First Division because of his young age.{{cite web |url=http://www.sandnesulf.no/index.php/nyheter-a-laget/items/zymer-bytyqi-signerte-med-a-laget.html |language=no |title=Zymer Bytyqi signerte med A-laget |publisher=Sandnes Ulf |first=Morten Wiik |last=Larsen |date=9 January 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012}} He gave an impressive performance for Norway U15 in September 2011, partly by scoring the winning goal in one of the matches,{{cite news |url=http://nrk.no/sport/1.7830866 |language=no |title=Norsk 15-åring jaktes av engelske storklubber |work=nrk.no |publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |first=Morten Wiik |last=Larsen |date=12 October 2011 |access-date=28 May 2012}} and joined Newcastle United on a week-long trial in October 2011. His agent, Jim Solbakken, stated that despite the interest from bigger clubs, it would be best for Bytyqi's development to stay at Sandnes Ulf.{{cite web |url=http://sandnesposten.no/index.php?page=vis_nyhet&NyhetID=5281 |language=no |title=Bytyqi (15) på prøvespill i Newcastle |publisher=Sandnesposten |first=Ole |last=Aarre |date=12 October 2011 |access-date=28 May 2012}}
Bytyqi signed a professional one-year contract with Sandnes Ulf in January 2012, and head coach Asle Andersen said that he had never seen such a talented striker, and that he would get his chance in Tippeligaen, following Sandnes Ulf' promotion to the top league. Bytyqi played for Sandnes Ulf during their pre-season,{{cite news |url=http://www.rogalandsavis.no/sport/Sandnes_Ulf/article6076752.ece |language=no |title=15-åring kan få sjansen |work=rogalandsavis.no |publisher=Rogalands Avis |first=Espen |last=Iversen |date=25 May 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012}} and he also scored a goal in the 6–0 win against Randaberg. After a very solid game for Norway U16 in April 2012, Sandnes Ulf's Director Tom Rune Espedal confirmed interest from English, German and Dutch clubs, but that no club had yet made an offer for Bytyqi, and that they most likely would sell the talented player during the summer. Bytyqi stated that his big dream was to play professionally abroad, but that he would not leave Norway without his family.
When Sandnes Ulf's forwards Tommy Høiland, Vetle Myhre and Gilles Mbang Ondo was out with injury,{{cite news |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/05/28/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/sandnes_ulf/haugesund/21811884/ |language=no |title=Her blir han tidenes yngste Tippaliga-spiller |work=dagbladet.no |publisher=Dagbladet |first=Christian M. |last=Hugsted |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012}} Bytyqi was included in the squad for the match against Haugesund on 28 May 2012, and made his debut for Sandnes Ulf when he came on as a substitute in the 77th minute. This made him the youngest player in the top league of Norway, aged 15 years, 261 days, beating Sverre Økland's (aged 16 years and 1 day) old record from 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/her-blir-zymer-bytyqi-15-historisk-han-er-det-stoerste-talentet-jeg-har-spilt-med-3792136.html |language=no |title=Her blir Zymer Bytyqi (15) historisk: – Han er det største talentet jeg har spilt med |work=tv2.no |publisher=TV 2 (Norway) |first=Christer |last=Baardsen |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=28 May 2012}} The record was broken on 13 April 2015, when Martin Ødegaard made his debut for Strømsgodset aged 15 years and 118 days.{{cite web|title=Tidenes yngste i Tippeligaen debuterte med målgivende|trans-title=Youngest ever in the Tippeliga made his debut with an assist|url=http://www.tv2.no/a/5504416|publisher=TV2 (Norway)|access-date=6 February 2015|language=no|date=13 April 2014|quote=Med sine 15 år og 118 dager passerte Ødegaard Sandnes Ulfs Zymer Bytyqi (15 år og 261 dager) som tidenes yngste.}}
In August 2012, Bytyqi was called up for the Norwegian U16-team, a decision that neither Sandnes Ulf or the player was happy about, as Bytyqi could have played the league-game against Lillestrøm and even made his first appearance in the starting line-up due to injuries.{{cite web |url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/zymer-bytyqi-tatt-ut-til-landslagssamling-vil-heller-spille-i-tippeligaen-3843926.html |language=no |title=Zymer Bytyqi tatt ut til landslagssamling – vil heller spille i Tippeligaen |work=tv2.no |publisher=TV 2 (Norway) |first=Jonas |last=Bergh-Johnsen |date=3 August 2012 |access-date=13 August 2012}}
=Red Bull Salzburg and return to Sandnes Ulf as loan=
On 23 August 2012, Bytyqi signed a three-year precontract with Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg and this transfer would become legally effective in January 2013. Red Bull Salzburg reportedly paid a 5 million krone transfer fee.{{cite news|url=https://www.tv2.no/a/3858128|title=Sandnes Ulfs stortalent klar for Red Bull Salzburg|trans-title=Sandnes Ulf's great talent ready for Red Bull Salzburg|language=no|publisher=Norwegian TV2|date=23 August 2012}} On 9 March 2013, he was sent back on loan to Tippeligaen club Sandnes Ulf for the remainder of the season.{{cite news|url=https://www.tv2.no/a/4004863|title=Tidenes yngste Tippeliga-spiller vender tilbake til Sandnes Ulf|trans-title=The youngest ever Tippeliga player returns to Sandnes Ulf|language=no|publisher=Norwegian TV2|date=9 March 2013}} On 1 May 2013, he played the first game after the return in the 2013 Norwegian Cup second round against Flekkerøy after being named in the starting line-up.{{cite news|url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/kamp/?fiksId=5844632|title=Flekkerøy–Sandnes Ulf|language=no|publisher=Norwegian Football Federation|date=1 May 2013}}
=Viking=
On 6 January 2015, Bytyqi signed a three-year contract with Tippeligaen club Viking and received squad number 27.{{cite news|url=http://www.viking-fk.no/news/article/r0wjr6q9bmyk1we7a7787cwlx/title/zymer-klar-for-tre-ar/|title=Zymer klar for tre år|trans-title=Zymer ready for three years|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107002159/http://www.viking-fk.no/news/article/r0wjr6q9bmyk1we7a7787cwlx/title/zymer-klar-for-tre-ar/|language=no|publisher=Viking FK|date=6 January 2015|archive-date=7 January 2015}} Three months later, he made his debut in a 1–0 away defeat against Mjøndalen after coming on as a substitute at 70th minute in place of Samuel Adegbenro.{{cite news|url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/kamp/?fiksId=6133909|title=Mjøndalen–Viking|language=no|publisher=Norwegian Football Federation|date=6 April 2015}}
=Konyaspor=
On 8 January 2021, Bytyqi signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Süper Lig club Konyaspor and received squad number 14.{{cite news|url=https://www.konyaspor.org.tr/Haber/zymer-bytyqi-ile-25-yillik-sozlesme-imzaladik/5195|title=Zymer Bytyqi ile 2.5 yıllık sözleşme imzaladık|trans-title=We signed a 2.5-year contract with Zymer Bytyqi|language=tr|publisher=Konyaspor|date=8 January 2021}} Two days later, he made his debut against Fatih Karagümrük after coming on as a substitute at 75th minute in place of Deni Milošević,{{cite news|url=https://www.konyaspor.org.tr/Haber/fatih-karagumruk-2--ittifak-holding-konyasporumuz-1/5200|title=Fatih Karagümrük: 2 – İttifak Holding Konyaspor'umuz: 1|trans-title=Fatih Karagümrük: 2 – Ittifak Holding Konyaspor: 1|language=tr|publisher=Konyaspor|date=10 January 2021}} and assists in his side's only goal during a 2–1 away defeat.{{cite news|url=https://topsporti.com/artikulli/zymer-bytyqi-debuton-me-asist/fifa|title=Zymer Bytyqi debuton me asist|trans-title=Zymer Bytyqi debuts with an assist|language=sq|website=TopSporti|date=10 January 2021}}
=Olympiacos=
On 1 February 2023, Bytyqi joined Super League Greece side Olympiacos.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympiacos.org/en/2023/02/01/zymer-bytyqi-joins-olympiacos/|title=Zymer Bytyqi joins Olympiacos|publisher=Olympiacos F.C.|date=1 February 2023}} Olympiacos reportedly paid a €1 million transfer fee.{{cite news|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunyadan-spor/olympiakos-konyaspordan-zymer-bytyqiyi-transfer-etti/2803030|title=Olympiakos, Konyaspor'dan Zymer Bytyqi'yi transfer etti|trans-title=Olympiakos transferred Zymer Bytyqi from Konyaspor|language=tr|publisher=Anadolu Agency|date=1 February 2023}}
=Antalyaspor=
On 1 August 2023, Bytyqi signed a three-year contract with Süper Lig club club Antalyaspor.{{cite web|url=https://www.antalyaspor.com.tr/tr/futbol-haberleri/zymer-bytyqi-antalyasporumuzda.html|title=Zymer Bytyqi Antalyasporumuz'da|trans-title=Zymer Bytyqi is in our Antalyaspor|language=tr|publisher=Antalyaspor|date=1 August 2023}}
International career
From 2011, until 2015, Bytyqi has been part of Norway at youth international level, respectively has been part of the U15, U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 teams and he with these teams played 44 matches and scored 7 goals.{{cite news|url=https://www.fotball.no/fotballdata/person/profil/?p=n&fiksId=3610779|title=Zymer Bytyqi – Landslagstatistikk|trans-title=Zymer Bytyqi – National team statistics|language=no|publisher=Norwegian Football Federation|access-date=8 October 2015}} Whereas, on 2 March 2014, Bytyqi received a call-up from Kosovo for the first permitted by FIFA match against Haiti,{{cite news|url=http://sport.albeu.com/sport/kosova-shpall-listen-anti-haiti/142997/|title=Kosova shpall listën anti-Haiti|trans-title=Kosovo announces the anti-Haiti list|language=sq|website=Albeu|date=2 March 2014}} and made his debut after coming on as a substitute at 57th minute in place of Ilir Azemi.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 13 May 2025|{{Soccerway}}{{cite news|url=http://www.altomfotball.no/element.do?cmd=player&personId=266334&tournamentId=1450&seasonId=342&teamId=6862&useFullUrl=false|title=Zymer Bytyqi|language=no|website=Altomfotball|access-date=10 January 2021}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|ContinentalIncluding continental competitions, such as UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Sandnes Ulf
|2012 |rowspan="3"|Eliteserien |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2013 (loan)
|15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2014 (loan)
|7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="7"|Viking
|2015 |rowspan="3"|Eliteserien |21 | 4 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 5 | ||
| 2016
|18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2017
|25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2018
|19 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 3 | ||
| 2019
|rowspan="2"|Eliteserien |28 | 2 | 6 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 4 | ||
| 2020
|29 | 10 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 30 | 10 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!140 | 20 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 155 | 23 | |
| rowspan="4"|Konyaspor
|rowspan="3"|Süper Lig |19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22
|37 | 8 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 39 | 8 | ||
| 2022–23
|19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!75 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 83 | 11 | |
| Olympiacos
|2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| Antalyaspor
|29 | 1 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 33 | 4 | ||
| align=center valign=center|CSKA Sofia
|14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 15 | 4 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!257 | 33 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 283 | 38 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 18 November 2024|{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=28527|title=Zymer Bytyqi|website=eu-football.info|access-date=24 March 2024}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="7"|Kosovo | |||
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total||26||1 |
;International goals
Scores and results list Kosovo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bytyqi goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Zymer Bytyqi |
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |
|---|
| align="center"|1
|9 June 2022 |Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |{{fb|NIR}} |align="center"|2–0 |align="center"|3–2 |
Honours
; Viking
References
{{Reflist}}
{{PFC CSKA Sofia squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bytyqi, Zymer}}
Category:Kosovan men's footballers
Category:Norwegian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football wingers
Category:Kosovo men's international footballers
Category:Norway men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Norway men's youth international footballers
Category:Kosovan expatriate men's footballers
Category:Norwegian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Austria
Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Austria
Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Austria
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Bulgaria
Category:Kosovan expatriate sportspeople in Bulgaria
Category:Norwegian expatriate sportspeople in Bulgaria
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:FC Red Bull Salzburg players
Category:Konyaspor footballers
Category:Antalyaspor footballers
Category:Olympiacos F.C. players
Category:PFC CSKA Sofia players
Category:Norwegian First Division players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:First Professional Football League (Bulgaria) players